ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN
On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we must recommit to a strong belief in multiculturalism, respect for all cultures and beliefs and to stamping out racism wherever it emerges.
Multiculturalism is one of Australia’s greatest ideals.
No matter who you are, or where you’ve come from, everyone should be welcome in Australia.
But we cannot take our multiculturalism for granted.
COVID-19 has seen racism rear its ugly head to near unprecedented levels.
Racism in the last two years has seen nearly half of Asian Australians experience race-based hatred, however very few go on to report it.
In 2022, we must all renew our commitment to a zero-tolerance for racial discrimination.
Racism creates distress in our community, division in schools and workplaces and unsafe public spaces - it has no place in modern Australia.
But the Morrison Government is yet to join Labor, and so many multicultural organisations, in supporting a new strategy to combat racism.
Despite a budget allocation of $63m towards social cohesion, there has been no spending focused on mitigating the marked increase in racism over the course of the pandemic.
Once again, the Liberals just aren’t listening - to either the evidence or the voices of affected communities.
It's not enough for the Morrison Government to simply condemn racism.
We need a new national anti-racism strategy, with zero tolerance at its core and a focus on empowering culturally and linguistically diverse communities.